Zelenskyy asks the US for a no-fly zone in an emotional address to Congress, saying Russia has 'turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death'

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed Congress on Wednesday.
• The Ukrainian leader asked the US to set up a no-fly zone. The US has so far ruled this out.
• Zelenskyy has been applauded across the world for his handling of Russia's unprovoked attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a virtual address to Congress from Kyiv on Wednesday, imploring the US to support a no-fly zone. Zelenskyy said that if this was "too much to ask for," then Kyiv needs more advanced anti-aircraft systems, like the  S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, and other weapons.

"Russia has turned the Ukrainian sky into a source of death for thousands of people," Zelenskyy said. 

Invoking Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, Zelenskyy said, "I have a dream: these words are known to each of you. Today I can say, I have a need. I need to protect our sky."

The Ukrainian said the Russian assault on his country represents a "terror that Europe has not seen for 80 years."

"We are asking for a reply, for an an answer to this terror from the whole world. Is this a lot to ask for? To create a no-fly zone over Ukraine to save people? Is this too much to ask? A humanitarian, no-fly zone?" Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian said the destiny of Ukraine and whether it will be free and be able to preserve its democracy is being decided in this war.

Zelenskyy called on the US to remember Pearl Harbor, the 1941 attack by Japan that launched the US into WWII, and the 9/11 terror attacks. "Our country experienced the same every day right now at this moment, every night for three weeks now," he said.

As Russia pummels Ukraine with airstrikes and artillery, Zelenskyy has repeatedly called on NATO to institute a no-fly zone. NATO and the US have rebuffed this request, however, because it would require the alliance to shoot down Russian warplanes. This would effectively amount to a declaration of war by NATO, a 30-member alliance that includes nuclear powers like the US, against Russia — a country that possesses one of the world's largest nuclear arsenals. 

Zelenskyy has been praised across the world for his handling of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader has refused to leave despite grave concerns for his safety.

The Ukrainian president has expressed gratitude for the support his country has received from the West both before and during the war. But he's also cooled on Ukraine's NATO ambitions since Russia launched the military assault in late February.

Russia has demanded that Ukraine be permanently barred from NATO. Though the alliance has not taken steps to place Ukraine on the formal path to join NATO, it's firmly rejected this demand from Russia — underscoring that NATO's open-door policy is non-negotiable. Despite not being a member, Ukraine still maintains a robust partnership with NATO. 

Zelenskyy, a former comedian and TV star, has only been in office for a few years. But in many ways, he's already upstaged Russian President Vladimir Putin — a former KGB operative who has ruled over Russia for roughly 20 years. Ukraine has put up a stiffer resistance against the Russian advance than expected. But the war has still caused immense suffering in Ukraine, and seen more than three million Ukrainians flee the country in less than a month. 

The war has led to roughly 1,900 civilian casualties in Ukraine thus far, per the UN's latest numbers, including 726 civilian deaths. Children were among those killed.

"I'm nearly 45. But today my age stopped when the hearts of 100 children stopped. I see no sense in life if it cannot stop death," Zelenskyy said toward the end of this speech. "[President Joe] Biden be the leader of the world. Being the leader of world means being the leader of peace."

The Ukrainian president said Russia has not just attacked Ukraine itself, but launched "a brutal offensive against our values, our human values." He said Ukraine was "fighting for the values of Europe and the world."

By assisting his country, he said, "The American people are helping not just Ukraine, but Europe and the world to keep the planet alive, to keep justice in history."

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